Netherfield are on the money
Mike Gatting looks at the plans during Thursday's trip to Netherfield Cricket Club
While England's batsmen try and build up a decent lead in Durham, just a short drive west Netherfield Cricket Club are building for the their future with help from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
The club, which is based at the foot of the Lake District in Kendall, was recently awarded £100,000 by the ECB to help fund new changing facilities.
In receiving the award they became the 1,000th club to be handed a grant or loan from the ECB.
"The ECB has provided this club with a lot of money and they are extremely grateful," said Mike Gatting, Managing Director Cricket Partnerships, when he visited the picturesque club on Thursday.
"It's a huge project they want to complete here and the £100,000 will go a long way to getting that work done.
"It's in a lovely ground and soon they will have the facilities to match to their surroundings.
"They are a thriving club that run three sides on a Saturday - at one point they can have three games going on at once on their home ground. They have 14 coaches to look after the kids during the week."
The former England captain, who played 79 Tests and 92 ODIs, was given a tour of the ground which will soon have brand new changing facilities to match a state of the art four-bay net area.
"It shows that people are aware that clubs need to update their facilities," added Gatting after handing out tickets for the Durham Test with West Indies. "Clubs which are 50 or 60 years old will have changing rooms that are not as good as they should be. There is a health and safety issue too.
"Netherfield have included ecofriendly facilities too, like solar panels and sensors for lights - it means they will not be wasting money.
"It is important that the ECB helps clubs like this. We are mindful that although the government gives a lot of support it can't always help - that's where we can step in."
Netherfield are the latest in a long line of sides who have taken advantage of ECB funding streams and Gatting is keen to urge more clubs to apply if they want to improve their facilities.
"It's easy to do," he explained. "Every club has a cricket board or development officer - get in touch with them and they will be able to help out with your application. They can also put you in touch with the right person here at the ECB. You will need a good business plan though to be successful."
Youth and experience - Gatting says the youngsters have a great place to learn their cricket
